Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: The movie fans have waited for
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Our Verdict
As a fan of the games, this feels close to being the perfect Sonic movie, adapting Shadow the Hedgehog’s story with action and nuance. However, there’s an issue with tonal dissonance that contradicts the core theme of the story.
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Going into the preview screening, my hopes for the third Sonic film were exceptionally high. After all, director Jeff Fowler’s take on the universe improved drastically from 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog to the sequel in 2022, and the compelling origin story of Shadow is hard to get wrong.
I’m happy to report that my faith was not misplaced. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 not only captures some of the best elements of the source material, Sonic Adventure 2, but it adds to the world with thoughtful details that make its impact even greater.
Minor spoilers for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with specific details revealed in the trailers mentioned
The third instalment in the Sonic movie series finally nails the pacing. From the first shot, we’re hurtled into the chaotic world of Shadow. Even when the story needs to move along fast (no pun intended), the handling is tongue-in-cheek, showing how the creators are often aware of the wild plot they’re taking on.
Like the game that inspired it, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 shifts its tone to be slightly darker, while retaining some classic kid-friendly jokes that will please younger fans. There are even some throwaway lines for the adults in there, especially for any fellow pop culture nerds.
Light-hearted humour comes from Team Sonic, who are stronger than ever. Ben Schwartz brings a slightly cockier edge to the Blue Blur this time around, reflective of his growth on Earth and his stepping into the role of a leader.
Paramount Pictures
His performance is complemented by Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Tails, and Idris Elba as Knuckles, who return to their roles with equal charm. They’re both given moments to shine, despite the additional cast members.
Meanwhile, the film adds more emotional depth when exploring the origin story of Shadow the Hedgehog, which is fleshed out more than ever before. The additional material draws audiences to Shadow’s side and makes the events of his past with Maria Robotnik even more heartbreaking.
Keanu Reeves was dream casting for Sonic fans, and for good reason. Shadow’s deep voice is hard to get right – it can very quickly veer into snarky ‘edge lord’ territory. Reeves has no such issues, delivering a masterful performance which handles the emotional, scathing and surprisingly funny moments with equal strength.
The animation is truly stunning, especially on Shadow, with rich textures and fine details, such as the way the water drips down his fur in the clip below. When you consider what the first iteration of Sonic was going to look like in these films, we’ve come a heck of a long way.
The fight scenes are masterfully crafted, with Fowler pulling from iconic moves and shots from the games while adding that extra film flair that this universe holds. They’re also just a lot of fun to watch as a fan, especially when it comes to the accompanying audio.
…the film adds more emotional depth when exploring the origin story of Shadow the Hedgehog, which is fleshed out more than ever before
One of my biggest criticisms of the first two films was the lack of original game music utilised. Sonic the Hedgehog completely forewent any songs except a minor nod to Green Hill Zone, while the sequel only used a handful of arrangements from the classic series. Given how iconic the soundtracks are, this felt like a missed opportunity.
Sonic 3 doesn’t fall into the same trap, with some motifs from the 3D era used several times in various ways. I suspect that the popularity of the Sonic Symphony Tour (which kicked off last year) may have drawn attention to the cult following of the music of the series.
Another issue I had with the first two films was how much the human plots took over – a problem also seen in the Paramount+ series, Knuckles, via the character Wade Whipple (Adam Pally). This is likely due to how expensive it is to animate the characters.
This time around, Tom (James Marsden) and Maddie Wachowski (Tika Sumpter) are used to full effect. They drive the plot forward in the right parts while reminding Sonic of his roots. Lee Majdoub’s Agent Stone also gets to shine further, displaying his devotion to Doctor Eggman with no uncertainties.
One part of the film that may prove contentious for die-hard fans is the characterisation of Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Doctor Robotnik/Eggman.
In the games (including the recent Sonic X Shadow Generations), Gerald’s madness is more subtle. He’s shown to be a softer-spoken figure, despite being capable of heinous acts. The character has also passed away by the time we meet him.
Jim Carrey doesn’t take that approach. The Gerald we meet in the films has the same zany behaviour used to portray Ivo Robotnik – with fourth wall breaking, quippy one-liners, and quite literally moustache-twirling evil. There is still that dark edge to him, but it’s certainly a departure from what fans will know.
Not everyone will see this as a negative point. Carrey has already put his own spin on the villain of the games, and for many audiences (particularly parents who aren’t as familiar with anthropomorphic hedgehogs and the like) he’s one of the highlights of the film.
He does the same for Gerald, and the camera trickery with the pair does, at times, make you forget that you’re not watching two separate actors on screen. My main concern is that there is a bit of tonal dissonance with this character, particularly with the past and present versions that we see of him.
This film has action, humour and emotion in droves
That same theme could be applied to the final act, where we bounce between a rather dark sequence and a completely absurd scene. There’s another rather important plot point that’s glossed over quite quickly early on, which feels at odds with Sonic’s core character.
Game purists may also notice that the plot of this film is slightly simpler than Sonic Adventure 2. That’s thanks to a leaner cast and the fact that the lore of the core story can sometimes get, well… a tad bonkers.
The elements dropped are in the right areas, while other pivotal scenes have been adapted to fit the narrative, all while retaining the same emotional weight and without feeling like it’s a clunky adapted version as in the animated series, Sonic X.
Paramount Pictures
Should you watch Sonic the Hedgehog 3?
Sonic was a huge part of my childhood – be it the games, TV series or comic books. I knew the importance of getting Shadow’s story right, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 delivered the best adaptation I’ve ever seen of it – even if Gerald Robotnik didn’t quite live up to my high standards.
This film has action, humour and emotion in droves. It’s a huge step up from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and genuinely the most fun I’ve had at the cinema this year. While the homages and easter eggs pleased my inner Sonic fan, you don’t need to be one to enjoy this film.
The cinematography is gorgeous, the story is gripping, and it’s got a brilliant balance of humour for both kids and adults – making it a superb choice for families deciding what to see on the big screen over Christmas.
My only worry coming out of this film is whether Jeff Fowler can maintain this standard for the fourth one… though the post-credits scene has made some hugely thrilling promises that quite literally had me cheering out loud.